PRIMARK WINS RETAIL AWARD

Saturday, 6th March 2010

Penneys / Primark Founder Honoured at Retail Awards

Founder and current Chairman of Dublin based value fashion retailer, Penneys / Primark, Arthur Ryan was presented last night (March 4th) with a lifetime achievement award for Outstanding Contribution to Retail at the prestigious Retail Week Awards 2010.

The presentation, made at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel is the pinnacle of a glittering career which has seen Mr Ryan take Penneys / Primark from a single store in June 1969 in Dublin’s Mary St, to where it is today, a leading value fashion retailer.

In a career spanning all of Penneys / Primark 40 year history, Mr Ryan has nurtured the business, opening its first store in UK in 1973. Penneys / Primark now operates in seven countries and has 196 trading stores selling from over 6.0 million sq. ft. Arthur Ryan is viewed as the man, who through his unique value trading formula , brought affordable fashion to the high street.
The award was the climax to a glittering celebration hosted by trade bible, Retail Week, whose annual awards dinner attracts all the good and the great in retailing. The lifetime achievement award is judged by a panel of senior retailers and previous holders have been Sir Geoff Mulcahy and Sir Ken Morrison.

Making the presentation, George Weston, CEO of Penneys / Primark parent company, Associated British Foods, said,
“Arthur has truly changed the face of retailing in Ireland and UK. From a standing start in 1969, he and his team have built what is now the outstanding retail success story of the decade. As Chairman his influence will continue to be felt as Penneys / Primark moves forward into its fifth decade.”

Penneys / Primark also picked up the prestigious ‘Retailer of the Year’ award. 
After the presentation, the Chief Executive, Paul Marchant said,
“I am very proud to be accepting this award on behalf of all my colleagues at Penneys / Primark without whom none of this would have been possible”.

Peter Franks, Penneys / Primark Head of Store Development was also up on stage to collect the Store Design of the Year award for the Primark Bristol store completing a clean sweep for Penneys / Primark.